Victoria Smith

Victoria Smith is a 3rd year Ph.D. student in music education at Northwestern University, with an
interdisciplinary certificate in Cognitive Sciences. She holds a Bachelor’s of Music in Instrumental
Performance from California State University, Stanislaus and a Master’s of Music in Music Education from
the University of the Pacific, where her research focused on the influences of mariachi on student
attainment, achievement, and engagement in school and at home. During her time at UOP, she served as
Dr. Ruth Brittin’s Graduate Research Assistant, where she received the “Women of Distinction” award for
her work with at-risk students and in gender equality. Prior to moving to Chicago to attend Northwestern,
Victoria taught music for sixteen years in California and Washington states. Currently, she serves as the
Music Director of Mariachi NU; a student-run performance ensemble focusing on mariachi music.
Victoria’s academic interests include topics in self-evaluation and self-regulation abilities of adolescent
musicians, gender preferences in instrument selections, culturally responsive practices in music and
world music pedagogy, and research scholarship in the area of mariachi music education.